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Nymph Fly Fishing : Basic Techniques

Just like
dry fly fishing, there are many, many ways to fish a nymph. Which
one you should use really boils down to how skilled
you are in nymph fly fishing and what you are attempting to catch
and where you are doing it. Make sense? Probably not, but let’s
move forward to give you some idea on the different nymphing techniques
available when fly fishing.

This page
goes over the easiest method for beginners to use. The more effective
Dead Drift Method is covered on the next page.

Nymph
Fly Fishing Technique : Beginner Method

This method of fishing nymphs is probably the easiest for any
beginner to use, and is certainly a good way to get introduced
to nymphing in general. This nymph fly fishing technique, which
involves casting the nymph directly across the river and then letting
is float all the way down to a point on the river directly below
the angler, removes many of the problems of nymph fly fishing for
the new anglers.

The beginner method of fly fishing with nymphs is quite simple.
First, just cast your nymph directly across the stream from where
you stand. Then, let the fly float down the river, keeping the
line tight as it floats away as well as following the fly with
your fly rod. Eventually, the nymph will be at a point directly
downstream from you.

This is the
point you want, as here, due to the current, the nymph will begin
to “rise” out of the depths due to the current
of the river. The current will also wiggle the little nymph all
around. Thus, when the nymph is directly downstream from you, hold
the nymph there for a couple of seconds, and then gradually raise
the tip of your fly rod, which will bring the nymph a bit further
up from the depths of the river. This is the most likely point
of a strike using this method.

This is a nice method for beginners, as it is all done by feel,
not by sight. You do not need to use a strike indicator for this
nymph fly fishing method. Instead, since the fly line will be tense
at all times, you will a trout strike immediately. Moreover, setting
the hook is a snap, too, since the trout will hook itself when
it takes your fly due to the tight tension in the fly line.

So, what’s wrong with this beginner method? Well, a number
of things, actually. First, the only point this method is likely
to draw any strikes is right at the point where your nymph begins
to lift off from the depths of the river. This greatly narrows
the scope of the effectiveness of this fly fishing method; since
the vast majority of the float of the nymph is “wasted” (trout
are unlikely to take a nymph that is careening at weird angles
across a river).

Secondly,
since the point of the strike will occur directly below you,
you need to make sure that you are able to be directly upstream
of this point. If, for some reason (and there are lots of potential
ones) you can’t get directly upstream of this point, you’re
unlikely to get your fly there.

And, lastly,
this method won’t work from a boat too well.
This beginner method is mainly designed for the angler who is fly
fishing with nymphs from the shore.

Well, this
page covered the "beginners nymphing method", for lack of a better
word. While this method is an excellent way for the beginner
to get started in nymph fly fishing, there are better methods
available. So, let's look more closely at advanced nymphing techniques,
particularly the Dead
Drift Method for Nymph Fishing.